6 things the NFL could have bought with the $14.7M spent on 'Deflategate'
The NFL has reportedly spent $14.7 million in its fight with Tom Brady over the "Deflategate" scandal, a preposterous number for what's essentially turned into an ego battle between the league and one of its most prominent stars.
It's likely Roger Goodell, the NFLPA, Brady, and the New England Patriots will continue to fight it out in appeal after appeal, but the ones who are really affected are the fans who've suffered through 17 months of "Deflategate."
With no end in sight, let's look at six things the NFL could have done with their $14.7 million:
Bought 73,500 copies of Brady's cookbook
It could have been seen as the ultimate olive branch to Brady, although he doesn't exactly need the help moving them, as the $200 (!) cookbook sold out quickly.
We don't know what the NFL would have done with 73,500 cookbooks, but they could have donated them to underprivileged families who struggle to make that perfect avocado ice cream.
Bought 980,653 pumps/press gauges
This might seem like overkill, but the NFL messed up something as simple as "does this ball seem a bit too squishy to you?" so let's not give them too much credit.
The league could make sure we never get a repeat of this disaster by buying 980,653 pumps/press gauges combos for $14.99 each, that's 30,645 kits for every franchise.
Money well spent.
1 season of Nick Foles & Derek Anderson
OK, maybe there are worse things to watch than Brady and Goodell squabble in public, like Nick Foles attempting to play professional football. But Foles and Derek Anderson's combined average salaries comes out at $14.62 million.
NFL fans could have spent the last year-and-a-half of their lives without "Deflategate," and the league could have got Foles and Anderson to serve drinks at their meetings for the rest of their lives. Everybody wins.
Sent 21,000 fans on Gronk's party ship
Tickets for Rob Gronkowski's party ship cost $700, meaning the NFL could have sent 21,000 fans for a wild three days with the tight end.
While it's highly unlikely that amount of people could fit onto the ship, if anyone could find a way, it's Captain Gronk.
Made the next 1,981,132 beers sold at stadiums to be free
With an average price around the league of $7.42, the NFL could have almost given away the next $2-million beers at stadiums for free.
Because no one can feel deflated with a free cold one in their hand, right?!
Fulfilled their grant to concussion study (almost)
The NFL pulled its grant to a concussion study by the National Institutes of Health after it reportedly was unable to influence the study in the direction it wanted. Apparently the crippling long-term health of the players in their sport comes second to making sure Brady's wrists stay firmly slapped.
The funding was for $16 million, but if the NFL doesn't have to stick to their word, neither do we.